Chrysanthemum Star

I am obviously not a good blogger!!  It has been years since I posted anything. 

I wanted to give everyone a little Christmas present from me to you!!  So below is a tutorial for Chrysanthemun Star Earrings or Small Pendant.  The beaded size is 1 and 7/8 inches long by 1 and 1/8 inches wide without jump ring or ear wires. 

Bead and Button Show Master Class

I participated in a Master class at the 2018 Bead and Button Show and my experience was great!!!  The class I took was Cynthia Rutledge's Beadwork & Metal: Meet in the Middle!  In the class students chose patina'd copper sheets to use in making boxes!  The boxes are reminiscent of snuff boxes used in 1700-1800s which could be very decorative. To make these boxes students used their beading skills to bezel and connect the copper together to form box shapes.  While doing this adornments were "bezeled" and attached as well.  Below are two of my boxes and I plan on making a third when time permits...

If you get a chance, take this class!!  I learned so much!!!

Thank you, Cynthia Rutledge!!!

Happy beading!!

StormDuos Beads

Potomac Bead Company has released their new bead StormDuo!  I love the twist of these beads.  They add a sophistication to beadwork.  I designed these Shield Earrings using them.

Here is the tutorial for you to use to make your own set....Enjoy!!  Remember to get your StormDuos from Potomac Bead Company!!

Three Pearls Earrings

Three Pearl Earrings are made with Arcos, Swarovski glass pearls, and seed beads.  It is not a complicated beading project.  I am posting it here for you guys to say 'thank you" for hanging in with my sporadic blog posts!  Also it is a good example of my newer tutorials that I sell in my Etsy shop!  Enjoy!!

Happy beading!!

Norma Jean

A New Design with a New Crystal

It has been quite a while since my last blog...what can I say? Life got in the way!!  But it's a new year and time to try to blog more!
After a hiatus in beading due to a right thumb injury, I am finally able to bead again!  I am currently working on the tutorial for Star Dew...

Star Dew uses a small Swarovski trilliant that I found while browsing Fire Mountain Gems.  I loved the shield shape of the crystal and decided that it would make an interesting drop.  To the trilliant drop I added a bezeled Swarovski glass pearl.  I wanted the main focal to be a 'wow' factor, so I used a 27mm Swarovski crystal and edged it with small pearls and crystal bicones.

The neck chain is done in two parts on each side.  The part that connects to the focal is edged with crystal bicones to add more bling!  I don't like the sharp feel of bicones next to my skin so the rest of the neck chain uses seed beads. 

I hope to finish this tutorial and have it listed within the next two weeks.  Happy beading!!

Sparkly Space Invaders

Now that you can get the new AVA beads from The Potomac Bead Company, I decided that you need a freebie tutorial for earrings.  Here is my design called Sparkly Space Invaders...I hope you enjoy making them!!

I used a Sahara briolette, Crystal Amber Full AVAs, Toho #460K drop, and Miyuki #191 for the seed beads.  I would love to see the colors you choose!!!

Happy beading!!

Norma Jean

New AVA beads

I was one of the designers chosen to play with the new AVA beads developed by The Potomac Bead Company.  I received three colors of the beads; Crystal Labrador Full, Crystal Amber Full, and Crystal Capri Gold Full.  My friend who is a retired third grade teacher calls them Less Than and Greater Than beads, because to her that is exactly what they look like.  AVAs measure 10X4mm and have two holes.  I really like the heft of the beads.

I had a great time playing with the AVAs.  I made two bracelet designs, Holly Points and Let It Go.
Holly Points is being made into a freebie video that you can get on The Potomac Bead Company website.  I will also sell a downloadable pdf of the diagrams in my Etsy shop for those of us who like diagrams.

Let It Go will be available to purchase in my Etsy shop when the tutorial is available.

I also designed a pair of earrings called Sparkly Space Invaders.  I am hoping to get the tutorial written up and posted here as a freebie... So much work so little time!!

AVAs will be available for purchase on The Potomac Bead Company's website later this month with more colors becoming available in November.  I think you will enjoy playing with them as much as I have!  There are other new design tutorials becoming available from other designers!!

Happy beading!!